Collecting Cleveland Indians Topps team sets from 1952-present, as well as post-war minor and major league autographs.
From the Field: Luis Castro, if, Staten Island FerryHawks … Infielder Luis Castro had a fantastic season in the independent Atlantic League in 2024. The 29-year-old Castro hit .356 with a .449 OBP and 1.085 OPS, hitting 24 HR. He would end the season with the league batting crown. Castro[…]
From the Field: Pan Wen-Hui, p, Philadelphia Phillies … In 2023 the Phillies signed 20-year old pitcher pitcher Pan Wen-Hui out of Taiwan. Pan was both a starter and reliever in Taiwan and has remained a swingman since coming to the States. He didn’t pitch too much in 2024 because[…]
From the Field: Kaden Anderson, p/of, Baldwin Bears … This past weekend was the PBR Hawaii Showcase. It was rough. The weather, which was nice all week, did not hold and the event’s final two days were plagued by rain. So much rain that they were forced to cancel the[…]
New Arrival: Matt Wilkinson, sp, Cleveland Guardians … It feels like it’s been a long time since a Cleveland minor league season ended and I was happy with the development of the prospects. But here we are. It’s refreshing to have some optimism about the talent coming up through the[…]
… Jose Ramirez had another great season in 2024, with a 143 OPS+ and a sixth All-Star selection. He nearly ended the season by joining the 40/40 club, but would fall one homerun short. … Ramirez has not performed quite as well in the playoffs, hitting .188 with a .350[…]
I’ve been a fan of Corbin Carroll since he was in low-A with the Hillsboro Hops. I was thrilled when he broke out in 2023, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award, made his first All-Star game, and ended 5th in MVP voting. He was a thrilling player,[…]
From the Field: Travis Fryman, if, Cleveland Baseball … Travis Fryman. Years ago, when he was managing Cleveland’s low-A team in Mahoning Valley, I drove down there three nights in a row trying to get him. I assumed, as a manager, that he would not be difficult. He was. And[…]
This 2000 Fleer Tradition Jose Ortiz ranked #107 on Beckett’s 2005 All-Time Hot List. It’s also a personal favorite of mine. … In 2001, the Oakland Athletics were in the middle of the Moneyball Era. Their top prospect coming into the season was infielder Jose Ortiz, who in 2000 was[…]
Part of my collection is acquiring the first card–generally, the first minor league issued–cards of prominent Cleveland Guardians players. I was happy to add these two over the weekend. Mostly happy.
Despite the rain–which has been a theme almost every time I have ventured out to a prep game this season–I was able to finally get one of the best players in the state, Iolani’s Chase Thompson. @chase.hawaii A two-way player, he is widely regarded as the best player in the 2027[…]